Quarry tiles
Quarry tiles have been used for flooring in kitchens and other areas of the home for decades. They’ve been used so often that many times they’re considered worthless and covered by carpet or other tiles when properties have changed hands. Have you uncovered some in your home and are curious as to whether they can be restored? Or perhaps you have a floor which is in need a bit of care and attention.
Common issues
Quarry tiles were once extremely popular, especially in farmhouses and similar properties. We have also worked with quarry tiles in larger premises, such as churches and town halls. Hardwearing and relatively cheap, they were a great solution for flooring. Since that time they have come back into fashion and many homeowners are now curious about restoration. Uncovering and restoring quarry tiles is an increasingly common request. Since carpet or other tiles are often stuck down with strong adhesive, removal should be handled by a professional, without the right tools it can be easy to damage the tiles underneath.
If the quarry tiles haven’t been cleaned for several years, the level of ground in dirt can be quite high. It can seem as though the tiles are beyond repair, but they’re surprisingly resilient and with the help of professional tools the results of restoration can be rather impressive. Dirty or blackened tiles can be successfully restored, so if that’s what you’re faced with don’t give up, give Tile & Stone Medic a call instead.
Where tiles have been exposed to frequent footfall, ground in dust and debris can leave behind scratches and surface marks. The legs of furniture can also trap hard particles which can then leave scratches if the furniture is moved. A professional restoration can deal with these sorts of issues incredibly well. If you have unsightly scratches on your quarry tiles, a professional polish could be the answer.
The subfloor supporting quarry tiles can be one of the most vulnerable areas of a feature floor. The problem here is that quarry tiles are porous, especially underneath. If the subfloor is not water tight, liquid can soak into the tiles from underneath and eventually lead to their cracking. Small cracks can be repaired, but in the worst cases replacement tiles may be necessary. It would be strongly advisable to fix up the subfloor to avoid the same problem in future.
How we maintain quarry tile flooring
We stock a range of cleaning solutions that have no problem cutting through and removing the problematic adhesives which are often used to secure other floors to the surface of quarry tiles. These chemicals are specially formulated to remove these residues without damaging or discolouring the tiles underneath. They also wont leave behind any nasty remnants either, so your home will be left safe for all.
With the surface residues properly removed, our technicians can get to work restoring the tiles. This can mean cutting through years and years of built up soiling. Without professional gear this can take days, but with our top of the range equipment we can effectively remove it much quicker and reveal the beautiful warm colours of the tiles underneath.
With the floor cleaned and repaired, we can finally seal the quarry tiles. Sealing creates a barrier against scratches and liquid spills and ensures that your quarry tiles stay clean for as long as possible. Of course, do make sure you clean up all spills and drops and quickly as possible so as to maintain the integrity of the seal.
Will repairing my quarry tiles cause disruption
We take great pride in our professionalism and will always work as considerately as possible when in your home. We won’t bring large or noisy machinery into your space and if you have a schedule to keep to or can only allow us access at a certain time we’ll do all we can to accommodate you.
Restoration of quarry tiles is quite a straightforward job for an experienced professional and, depending on the size of the floor, can sometimes be completed on the same day. Large objects such as pieces of furniture do need to be removed in order for the work to be carried out.
If you have quarry tiles in your home or business that look dirty of tired, don’t give up on them. You’ll be amazed at how dramatic a difference a professional restoration can make, in some cases making them almost as good as new. If you’re curious, why not give us a call? We are confident our services offer great results at brilliant value.
FAQs
Whilst we may use specialist chemicals in the course of our work, we can assure you that by the time we leave all residues will be gone and your tile or stone flooring will be perfectly safe for everyone to use. We work to extremely high standards of health and safety, conducting proper risk assessments where appropriate and never putting you or anyone else in danger.
We always work in the most considerate way possible. Work will be tailored to your needs and will fit around your schedule where possible. We avoid bringing loud or bulky machinery into your home and when a job is complete we thoroughly clean up after ourselves to leave your space looking as tidy as it did when we arrived.
